We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emmanuel Smart a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Emmanuel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Being a rapper or an artist in today’s time alone is a risk but they’re were plenty more that i took on the way to where I’m at right now and more i’ll take in the future. When i decided to do music full time, I didn’t quite have an idea of what exactly i was getting myself into, but i took that risk because music is something i love, cherish, and a way for me to express myself in any situation. So far that risk has paid off,despite me not being where i want to be, i see progress, and with constant progress comes elevation. I took a risk in changes my stage name as well, My previous name being “BTF Drippy”.
I changed it to “BTF” because it suited me better and represented my motto, “Before The Fame”

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Originally Nigerian, I grew up in the United States where I had to adapt to everything including my accent and with music. I’ve found my love for music US, listening to Artist, such ass, Lil Wayne, Young Thug, Gucci Mane, and more. I developed a strong interest in music and around my junior year. I had already started making music, but I wasn’t taking it seriously. After I graduated, I decided to mess around with it a little more my first song called “Black” was what set the tone for me. Around that time it was a lot of protest during “Black Lives Matter”, And the unfortunate passing of George Floyd caused chaos in the black community. So when I made black, I was so more selective what it’s like to grow up as an African American. A little job, my neck single, which was bigger than my last named “Big Kittle” after gaining some buzz from those tracks I decided to drop out of school and pursue music full time.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, it’s about how I’m impacting and influencing others through music, and although sometimes people may not relate, but it’s also about bringing a different sound around to your ears. As I am very versatile and have a variety of taste in music, and I can tap into different genres of music and execute just as well. For the long run, I think the feeling of knowing you can go far and know that with your words you can change lives, that’s the most awarded aspect in my opinion

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I want to settle my next two generations for life, and I believe I have the chance to do that not only with my talent, but with my ambition as well. I want to repay my parents back for all the hard work and investment they put into me. They deserve it. But like I said earlier, I do want to impact others with my music. no I am not at the biggest stage it. I definitely see myself heading towards there with the belief and ambition that I have, I will get it to fruition.  

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hyperfollow.com/theonlybtf
• Instagram:Instagram.com/theonlybtf
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@theonlybtf